PHOENIX — For Steve Nash, the emotion and positivity of his return to Phoenix after being traded to the Lakers in the offseason lasted the first 6:42 of the game.

The 38-year-old point guard was introduced last of all the Lakers and took the court to a hero's welcome — with a small smattering of boos — from a vociferous crowd made of equal parts Suns and Lakers fans.

During the first timeout of the game with 5:18 left in the first quarter, the Suns showed a tribute video of Nash's highlights with Phoenix set to Coming Home by Diddy Dirty Money and Skylar Grey.

After that, it was all business on both sides as the Suns fought to a 92-86 win at U.S. Airways Center.

"It was good to see him," said Suns center Marcin Gortat, who played a season and a half with Nash. "Obviously it was great to play against him, but at the end of the day he's on another team and all we care about now is to win the game."

Nash called the video "very flattering and very sweet," although he probably missed the first minute or so as Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni was going over strategy during the timeout. Gortat only saw a few minutes of it himself.

If Nash was overcome by emotion in any way, he didn't show it on the court or in the postgame locker room. But in his standard hushed tone, he thanked the fans for their support.

"It's a great reception," Nash said. "Obviously this is a very special place for me. To be in front of these incredible fans — I'm very grateful for the reception but also for my time here, which was the best years of my life."

Suns who had played with Nash hadn't had much of a chance to catch up with him before the game. Gortat only had a few seconds to say hello and tell him he missed him.

Phoenix point guard Goran Dragic, who apprenticed under Nash for two-and-a-half seasons, found it odd playing against his former mentor.

"It is always weird playing against Steve," said Dragic, who had 11 points and eight assists in the win, topping Nash's output of 11 points and two dimes. "We were together two years and a half and he was great to me. He helped me a lot and I will always appreciate that."

The Suns might have been a little more comfortable sharing their feelings about Nash's return than Nash himself. They won the game and are 3-2 under interim coach Lindsey Hunter, while the former face of the franchise is unexpectedly struggling with a team laden with future Hall of Famers.

Nash was touched by his welcome, but he also wanted to win. At the very least, he wanted to have more of an impact than he did.

"Unfortunately I didn't get a lot of opportunities in the fourth quarter," Nash said. "But I definitely was eager to get more into the game. I tried to come out in the fourth quarter and be aggressive."

Nash thinks he can be more of a factor than he has been. He dismissed the notion that two historically ball-dominant players like himself and Kobe Bryant can't coexist.

If anything, he thinks having a healthy Dwight Howard at center is the key. Howard left the game in the fourth quarter after aggravating a shoulder injury that's plagued him all season.

"This team's built, I think, to play around a center," Nash said. "We're not athletic or fast elsewhere, but we're experienced and obviously skilled players. But it's all predicated on having that defensive presence and having a big body in the paint at both ends."

Gortat, who has played with both Nash and Howard and is never shy with an opinion, has a different theory. Nash can fit in any offense, he said. But Howard may not fit with Nash.

The perennial All-Star center, acquired from the Orlando Magic in the offseason, is an isolation guy. He's not going to set 30 screens a game like Gortat did with Nash.

"Quite honestly, I don't think Dwight knows how to use him well," Gortat said. "If they're going to develop this chemistry, (Nash) can take this team by himself to another level. Right now it doesn't look like they're doing it."

Gortat said he hopes to play that role with Nash again someday. Until then, reliving the highlights on the jumbotron will have to do for everyone.

"It was great from our organization," Gortat said. "It's obvious that it had to happen. I'm happy that they really gave him that honor. He did so much for this organization, it's just ridiculous."